Lightning News

Lightning Reassign D Josef Melichar to Norfolk

by
Staff Writer
/ Tampa Bay Lightning

TAMPA BAY – The Tampa Bay Lightning have reassigned defenseman Josef Melichar to the Norfolk Admirals of the American Hockey League, Executive Vice President and General Manager Brian Lawton announced.

Melichar, a 6-foot-2, 222-pound native of Ceske Budjovice, Czech Republic, has played in 30 games with the Lightning and Hurricanes this season, recording eight assists. He has also appeared in 25 games with Albany of the AHL, recording a goal and five points. He made is Tampa Bay debut February 12 and has averaged 17:15 in ice time while recording four assists in 15 games with the Lightning.

In his seventh NHL season, Melichar has played in 340 career NHL games with Tampa Bay, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Carolina Hurricanes. He has recorded seven goals and 48 points, including one shorthanded goal, during his career. Melichar has also played in 151 career AHL games with the River Rats and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, recording six goals and 24 points.

Melichar was drafted by Pittsburgh in the third round, 71st overall, in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft. He was acquired by Tampa Bay from Carolina on February 7, 2009 with Wade Brookbank and a fourth round pick in 2009 in exchange for Jussi Jokinen.